Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has called on Arsenal to end Arsene Wenger’s reign in the summer to ensure he gets “the send-off he deserves”.

Wenger signed a new two-year deal at the end of last season but is under increasing pressure after a nightmare start to 2018.

Arsenal began the year with a shock FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest and remain 10 points adrift of the top four in the Premier League following the 3-0 loss to Manchester City, who beat the Gunners by the same scoreline in the Carabao Cup final just days earlier.

Many Arsenal fans stayed away on Thursday and Carragher believes a large section of the Emirates Stadium support are just waiting for Wenger to leave.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing calls to leave

“Last season there was anger from supporters and marches against Arsene Wenger, which I thought were a disgrace,” pundit Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“But I think tonight was worse. The Arsenal fans are not actually interested. They didn’t turn up.

“There were a few boos at the end but it wasn’t the anger of last season. Now it’s almost like resignation, just waiting for the manager to go.

“How sad is that? That very few, if any, Arsenal fans want Arsene Wenger as the manager next season.

“This man is a legend in the English game. But they have to change it, it has to be done.

“There’s no way the end of this season should be about this man being hounded out and going through that in empty stadiums.